“Anything he wants, it’s on the house” — Owner of Tam’s Burger says Kendrick Lamar can eat there for free, honors him with a mural

Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar has been granted a lifetime pass to enjoy free meals at Tam’s Burgers, a local fast-food favorite, in recognition of his contributions to the community and his latest music video, Not Like Us. The video, which premiered on July 4, has brought significant attention and business to the restaurant.

Spiro Vovos, the owner of Tam’s Burgers, shared the excitement and gratitude felt during the days following the video’s release. The owner explained,

“I guess that's part of Kendrick's team, and they asked if he can come back here and do a music video. He's been here before, and of course, I'm going to say yes. You know, he's such a big icon to Compton and to this whole community. So, I mean, we didn't think twice. We had him here, and he's such a lovely guy. My grandfather, the one that started Tam's Burgers, is the one that probably was the one feeding him when he was growing up. So, I think this is his roots, and we're so lucky and very thankful to him and this whole team that they came back here and did this music video for us over here.”

When asked about Lamar’s usual order, Vovos shared,

"From what I understand, a bacon cheeseburger. A bacon cheeseburger."

When asked if Kendrick Lamar has free burgers for life, Vovos responded,

"Absolutely. Anything he wants, it's on the house."

When asked about other celebrities, such as Drake, Vovos tactfully avoided the question, stating,

"I can't answer that question. We stand in support of Kendrick and Compton, so I'd probably leave that out."

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Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us video brings business to Tam's Burgers

It’s now been a week since Kendrick Lamar released his Not Like Us music video. The video, which has already garnered over 45 million views, has also generated significant attention and business for a local burger joint in Compton, California.

On Monday, July 8, TMZ reported that managers at the Tam's Burgers Compton location on Rosecrans Ave. have experienced a surge of customers following the release of Lamar's chart-topping Drake diss track, which was partially filmed inside and outside the restaurant. The business has seen a 30 to 40 percent increase in sales since the July 4 video debut, with many new customers attributing their visits to seeing the local haunt in the video.

Part of the video was shot at Tam’s Burgers at Rosecrans and Central Avenues in Kendrick Lamar's hometown of Compton, sparking a fan frenzy and inspiring the addition of a new mural honoring the Grammy-winning rapper. Earlier this week, muralist Mike Norice painted the They Not Like Us mural around the building.

Norice told ABC News that he wanted to pay tribute to Lamar and Compton by painting the mural. He said,

"So, I want to show the people in the Watts - Compton community and this area that you can do anything."

Manager Lauro Hernandez noted that people have been specifically ordering the bacon cheeseburger, which is Kendrick Lamar’s favorite. Hernandez mentioned that the rapper has been visiting the establishment since he was a teenager.

Hernandez also shared that they did not request payment for filming at the restaurant, but Kendrick Lamar agreed to feature the store signage in the video for promotional purposes. Since the video's release, fans from around the world have been stopping by Tam’s Burgers for food and photos, contributing to the restaurant's newfound popularity.

Tam's Burgers has been an integral part of the local culture for decades. Kendrick Lamar mentioned the chain in his 2017 song ELEMENT., rapping, "I be hangin' out at Tam's, I be on Stockton / I don't do it for the 'Gram, I do it for Compton." The set for the Super Bowl LVI halftime show in 2022 also included a sign from Tam's Burgers #21 and references to many other Compton landmarks, paying tribute to the African-American culture of the Los Angeles area.

Founded in 1971 by Kostas Vovos, Tam's Burgers has grown into an iconic symbol of Compton, California. The chain, now owned by Vovos' grandson Spiro, has over twelve locations in Los Angeles County. It is important to note that Tam's Burgers is not to be confused with another chain of the same name that split off in 1992 and serves the Inland Empire with six locations.

While Tam's Burgers is cherished as a local delight, it also holds a notorious place in hip-hop history. The restaurant was a filming location for Straight Outta Compton, where Suge Knight struck and killed Terry Carter with his car following a confrontation on set. Knight is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence for the incident.